PONTYBEREM darts star Jonny Clayton lost to good friend and fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price in a thrilling quarter-final match at the Cazoo Grand Slam of Darts.

Premier League champion Clayton fought back from 11-9 to draw level at 12-12, but two-time champion Price was too strong in the end and won four legs on the trot to win the match.

World champion Price went on to beat James Wade 16-9 in the semi-final at the Aldersley Leisure Village, and then overcame Peter Wright 16-8 in the final to win the title for the third time in four years.

Price avenged last month's loss to Clayton in the World Grand Prix final with a strong performance as he held off his Welsh World Cup team-mate's fightback.

"I got over the winning line in the end and I'm pleased to be in the next round because that was a tough one to get through," said Price.

"I should have blown him away early on but I'm letting people off the hook. I need to be playing a lot more and I haven't this year.

"It was close, it was intense and I was fortunate that Jonny slipped up a couple of times and I did what I had to do.

"I flew out of the blocks but when it was 6-4 I should maybe have been 8-2 up, Jonny shouldn't have been in the game but I'm letting people off.

"When my back was up against the wall, I didn't want to let him get in front of me. I wasn't at my best, but it was an exciting game, a close game and good for the crowd and people back home."

Price opened the game with a 13-darter, and followed a 100 checkout with a ten-dart leg and an 11-darter as he stormed into a 5-1 advantage.

Clayton, though, ignited his challenge with a 126 finish and produced legs of 11, 14 and 13 darts in hitting back to level at six-all.

Price took out 110 to regain the edge and pulled away to lead 11-8, only to see Clayton respond once more as he squared the tie after 24 legs.

The world number one held throw to lead 13-12, and punished Clayton's miss at tops in the next to break, before finishing 66 and tops to secure his semi-final spot.